Chapter 8 - THE CALL FROM HOME
Alina couldn’t speak.
Leo laughed softly.
“You always did go quiet when you were angry.”
“Are you really alive?”
A pause.
“Yes.”
Her eyes burned.
“Then why didn’t you find me?”
“I tried.”
“You told Stefan I couldn’t come home.”
Another pause.
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“Because if you come back, you’ll die.”
“So you’re protecting me?”
“I’m protecting the country.”
Alina almost laughed.
“You sound like him.”
“I sound like someone who stayed.”
The words cut deep.
Leo continued.
“You ran, Alina.”
“I was dragged unconscious from a burning car!”
“And I woke up surrounded by dead soldiers.”
His voice cracked.
“You think you were the only one who suffered?”
“No.”
“You disappeared. I stayed here. I watched Stefan arrest our friends. I watched generals switch sides. I watched people beg me to give them something to believe in.”
“You’re giving them Stefan.”
“I’m giving them stability.”
“You’re giving Vale our country.”
Silence.
Then Leo said, “Come home.”
Marcus looked sharply at her.
Alina turned on speaker.
Leo continued.
“Come to the coronation.”
Rovan stepped closer.
“Your Highness, do not—”
Leo heard him.
“General Rovan.”
His voice turned cold.
“You’re still alive too.”
Rovan’s face hardened.
“As inconvenient as ever.”
Leo laughed.
“I remember.”
Alina closed her eyes.
“What do you want?”
“To see my sister.”
“That’s all?”
“No.”
His voice dropped.
“I want you to kneel in front of the cameras and recognize me as the rightful king.”
Marcus mouthed, Absolutely not.
Alina ignored him.
“And if I refuse?”
“Then Stefan will release evidence saying you worked with terrorists to murder our parents.”
Alina’s stomach turned.
“That’s insane.”
“Truth is what people can prove.”
“We have Vale’s files.”
Leo went silent.
Then:
“Get rid of them.”
“No.”
“Alina.”
“No.”
A long breath came through the phone.
“You still think this is a fairy tale. Bad uncle. Evil billionaire. Brave princess comes home and saves everyone.”
“I never thought life was a fairy tale.”
“Then grow up.”
The line went dead.
Alina stood still.
Marcus broke the silence.
“He’s scared.”
“He threatened me.”
“Both can be true.”
Rovan said, “The coronation gives us an opportunity.”
Marcus stared at him.
“You just told her not to go.”
“I changed my mind.”
“Why?”
Rovan pointed to the files.
“Because Project Crownfall gives us proof of treason. But proof in New York changes nothing if Stefan controls every television station in Velkria.”
Daniel nodded.
“We need to release it inside the country.”
Alina looked toward the window.
Three years ago, she had escaped Velkria inside the trunk of a diplomatic car.
She had sworn never to return.
Now her brother was waiting.
So was the man who had stolen her family.
She turned.
“We go home.”
Marcus sighed.
“I had a feeling you’d say that.”
Rovan shook his head.
“No private jets. Airports will be watched.”
Marcus smiled.
“Good thing I own cargo planes.”
Sixteen hours later, their aircraft crossed into European airspace.
Then the pilot’s voice came through the cabin.
“We have company.”
May you like
Alina looked outside.
Two fighter jets were flying beside them.
